Postcard Press Picks: Pattie Gonia

Postcard Press Picks:
Pattie Gonia

Pattie Gonia is a creator, a mountaineer, a photographer, a drag queen, and an inspiration to anyone who lives a life of adventure. The name, a clever take on the outdoor gear brand Patagonia, is the pseudonym of outdoor photographer Wyn Wiley. She made her debut on Instagram in early October, self-proclaimed as “the world’s first backpacking queen.” Since then, she has taken the travel and adventure community by storm with a combination of humor, fun, and experience as a skier, hiker, backpacker, and rock climber.

Before leaving on a hike, Pattie always makes sure she has her six-inch high-heeled boots, a staple of her iconic look. She always treks a portion of her journey in them and takes photographs dancing and strutting in them with the stunning backdrop of the mountain’s summit. However, there is more to her than just glamour and poise while traveling; it’s a message that resonates with people everywhere, telling them to “live unapologetically” and just go for it.

Pattie’s look is a mix of feminine and masculine, taking a different view on the classic drag queen look. She wanted to make it her own and stand out from the drag community. She has built on the character, stating that the purpose is to make people laugh and want to have fun. Her goal, however, is to inspire more people to get outside and to include more individuals who are not commonly considered within the outdoors community. She wants there to be no exclusion when it comes to adventuring, as the outdoors belong to everyone, including those who are LGBT, people of color, and those of all different body types.

There have been all kinds of unnecessary gender roles assigned to things, especially being outdoorsy and “roughing it,” because anyone of any gender can be a hardcore camper, hiker, backpacker, and reach the top of a mountain. Bottom line: the act of enjoying nature has no gender.

Is there someone you follow on social media who inspires you to get outdoors or to travel the world? Tell us below; we want to know all about them! And don’t forget to pin!